Weight scale with ultrasound imaging for ankle displacement measurement

ABSTRACT

A device for correlating trend data with respect to a patient&#39;s weight ankle displacement can identify conditions indicative of congestive heart failure. A weight scale or similar device coupled with imaging mechanism operable to measure ankle displacement collects a plurality of measurements over a period of time. Over time trend analysis of both the patient&#39;s weight and the ankle displacement measurements can be obtained and compared to identify whether over a particular sample period an increase in a patient&#39;s ankle displacement is or is not correlated with an increase in the patient&#39;s weight. When an increase in ankle displacement is identified as not correlating to a corresponding change in the patient&#39;s weight an alert can be issued of conditions indicative of congestive heart failure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/546,180 filed Aug. 24, 2009 and claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/091,670 filed Aug.25, 2008. The disclosure of the foregoing United States patentapplication is specifically incorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general to homehealthcare monitoring and more particularly to monitoring andcorrelating trend data with respect to ankle displacement measurementsand patient weight and thereafter transmitting that data to a healthcareprofessional when a statistically significant event occurs.

2. Relevant Background

Congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition in which theheart cannot pump enough blood to the body's other organs. This canresult from a variety of causes including narrowed arteries that supplyblood to the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, scar tissue build upfrom past heart attack or myocardial infarction that interferes with theheart muscle's normal work, high blood pressure, heart valve disease dueto past rheumatic fever or other causes, heart defects present at birth,and infection of the heart valves and/or heart muscle itself.

Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart, whilecontinuing to function, does not perform its work as efficiently as itshould. People with heart failure cannot exert themselves because theybecome short of breath and fatigued. As blood flow out of the heartslows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causingcongestion in the tissues. Often swelling (edema) results. Most oftenthere is swelling in the legs and ankles, but swelling can occur inother parts of the body as well. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungsand interferes with breathing, causing shortness of breath, especiallywhen a person is lying down. Another common symptom is swelling in lowerextremities, especially the feet and ankles.

The degree of swelling people with heart failure experience depends onhow well their body is compensating for the heart failure and how muchsodium and water their body retains. In some cases the swelling is mildand merely bothersome, while in other cases it can be severe and painfulas their skin becomes taut and sensitive.

The medical term for this swelling in the legs is pedal edema—“pedal”refers to the feet and “edema” refers to the buildup of excess fluid.Heart failure often causes what doctors call “pitting edema,” meaningthat applying pressure to the swollen skin leaves an indentation in theskin. Doctors often test for edema by pressing their thumb to the skinand seeing whether it leaves an impression. One common example ofpitting edema is when, upon removal of one's footwear, he or shediscovers that his or her socks have left an impression in the skin ofthe ankles and feet. However, tests such as this are used to confirmextreme cases of edema after a patient has sought assistance. Thepresence of edema is used to verify or support a diagnosis rather thanproactively to identify a potential or growing condition.

While the association of pedal edema and heart failure is well known,the presence of pedal edema in a patient experiencing heart failure istypically one of many factors used to reach a diagnosis once a patienthas sought out medical care. For example a chest X-ray indicating abuild up of fluid in the cavity surrounding the lungs resulting in thepatient experiencing difficulty in breathing may also be indicative ofheart failure. But unlike blood tests, X-rays and other non-ambulatorytests, pedal edema can be readily observed and monitored by the patient.

However, even when patients having a high likelihood or susceptibilityto heart failure are asked to monitor various physiological conditionsincluding pedal edema, patient compliance is historically poor andunreliable. A need therefore exists for a system and apparatus toefficiently and effortlessly monitor changes in pedal edema of a patientshowing susceptibility to heart failure. Furthermore there is a need torecord such data and correlate it with the weight of a patient over aperiod of time so as to determine whether any changes in pedal edema areconsistent or inconsistent with weight change. Finally a need remains toconvey this information to a healthcare professional for analysis and,if necessary, to initiate proactive measures to minimize risk to thepatient. These and other improvements to the prior art are hereafterdescribed by way of example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, described hereafter by way of example, provides asystem and method for correlating trend data with respect to a patient'sweight with trend data with respect to the patient's ankle displacement.According to one embodiment of the present invention, a deviceincorporates both a weight scale and ultrasound or similar imagingmechanism to measure ankle displacement. Over time trend analysis ofboth the patient's weight and the ankle displacement measurements can beobtained and compared to identify whether an increase in a patient'sankle displacement is or is not correlated with an increase in thepatient's weight.

According to one embodiment of the present invention a scale or similardevice incorporates an electronic measuring apparatus using technologysuch as ultrasound, infrared or other means to measure ankledisplacement by way of imaging. The collected data is then processed bya microprocessor. The microprocessor, using a correlation module and thetrend analysis module, determines whether there is a statisticallyunique difference in trend data for a patient's weight and ankledisplacement. Upon determination that a statistical variance in the datahas occurred, and according to one embodiment of present invention, ahealthcare professional can be alerted and, if necessary, steps can betaken to contact the patient to render advice or treatment.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a devicecollects data with respect to the patient's weight and ankledisplacement. The data is thereafter stored and trend analysis isconducted on both the patient's weight and ankle displacementmeasurements. Trends of the patient's weight and measurements of thepatient's ankle displacements are examined and a correlation can bedetermined between the two sets of data. If there is a low correlation,meaning that ankle displacement measurements show a trend that isminimally related to the patient's weight measurements, an alert is sentto a medical or healthcare professional for further analysis. Accordingto another embodiment of the present invention, the data can betransmitted via a network such as the Internet or other wide-areanetwork or the data can be used to alert the patient via a display orsimilar device.

The features and advantages described in this disclosure and in thefollowing detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additionalfeatures and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims hereof.Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specificationhas been principally selected for readability and instructional purposesand may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe theinventive subject matter; reference to the claims is necessary todetermine such inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of the presentinvention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent,and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to thefollowing description of one or more embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a high-level system diagram showing the relationship between apatient and ankle displacement measurement device, and a healthcareprofessional;

FIG. 2 is a high-level component diagram showing the relationshipbetween various components of a weight scale and ankle displacementmeasurement device according to one embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 3 is a method embodiment for determining correlation between apatient's weight and ankle displacement measurements according to thepresent invention.

The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes ofillustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the invention described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described in detailwith reference to the accompanying Figures. Although the invention hasbeen described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity,it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by wayof example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangementof parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One of the leading causes of death relating to cardiac disease iscongestive heart failure. This condition can be monitored in variousways including echocardiograms, weight monitoring and measurements ofpedal edema. As discussed herein, pedal edema is a condition where thelower extremities of the human body swell due to the accumulation offluid. As the heart becomes inefficient fluid collects in the lowerextremities, including the feet and ankles, causing them to swell. Thereare number of reasons why a patient may experience swelling of the lowerextremities. These reasons include injuries such as ankle sprains orgeneral immobility due to some other type of illness or injury. However,when it is not associated with other contraindicated symptoms, pedaledema may be indicative of congestive heart failure. A statisticallysignificant change in a patient's ankle displacement without a similarstatistically significant change in the patient's weight may be an earlyindication of pedal edema associated with congestive heart failure.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a deviceincorporates the ability to measure and store both a patient's weightand ankle displacement or size of the patient's ankles. Simultaneousmeasurement of both the patient's weight and ankle displacement is takenand stored for further analysis by the simple act of a patient steppingon a scale. Over time trend information for both the patient's weightand ankle displacement is determined and compared so that a correlationfactor can be calculated. If the size of the patient's ankles increasesover time, as indicated by the ankle displacement trend data, without acorresponding variance in the patient's weight, a low correlation factoris determined. This low correlation or non-correlating factor can beindicative of congestive heart failure. The displacement or size of ahealthy individual's ankles does not significantly vary from one day toanother. And when such a variation is noted it is typically associatedwith a corresponding gain in weight. For example, a person who generallymaintains a low sodium diet may find their weight fluctuate 2-5 lbs dueto a meal having a high salt content. This weight gain, which isprimarily due to water, may cause a corresponding swelling in theankles. Similarly, weight gain over a prolonged period to time may alsobe associated with increased ankle displacement. This type of correlatedvariance in a person's weight and ankle size would not be indicative ofcongestive heart failure. However an uncorrelated increase in ankledisplacement may warrant further scrutiny.

When the present invention determines a low or non-correlating factorbetween the patient's historical weight data and the patient'shistorical ankle displacement data, a message is sent to a healthcareprofessional for further analysis and, if necessary, proactive action.The healthcare professional can thereafter contact the patient, askadditional questions and, if necessary, direct him or her to a hospitalor similar facility for further testing. According to another embodimentof the present invention, a display device can provide a patientdirectly with healthcare protocols and/or advice directing him or her toa hospital or similar facility.

FIG. 1 shows a high-level view of a system for correlating trend dataregarding a patient's weight with that regarding their ankledisplacement. A patient 110 utilizes a weight and an ankle displacementmeasuring device 120 to measure both their weight and ankle sizesimultaneously. Each time the patient utilizes the device 120 data iscollected and stored for further analysis. According to one embodimentof the present invention, data collected over time by the ankledisplacement measuring device 120 is conveyed via a network 140 to ahealthcare professional 130 for further analysis. According to anotherembodiment of the present invention, the device 120 collects and storesdata within the device and thereafter processes the information todetermine whether trend data with respect to the patient's weight andthe patient's ankle displacement measurements are statisticallycorrelated. When a non-correlating event occurs in which a patient'sankles swell without a corresponding change in weight, the device 120transmits or conveys that information via a network 140 to a healthcareprofessional 130. The healthcare professional 130 thereafter can contactthe patient 110 for further action including directing the patient to ahospital or other healthcare facility for further testing.

FIG. 2 is a high-level system diagram of components of one embodiment ofan ankle displacement and weight measuring device. According to oneembodiment of the present invention, the weight and ankle displacementmeasuring device 120 includes a patient interface 200 on which thepatient stands and that includes a scale and some means to measure anklesize. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant art, anumber of means can be used to measure both the patient's weight andankle size. For example electronic scales that are well known in theprior art measure a patient's weight using strain gauges and otherweight measuring devices. It is also well known that body compositionmeasurements can be conducted by measuring impedance of a smallelectrical charge passed through the body. Similarly, a patient's anklesize can be accurately measured using ultrasound, infrared, or otherelectronic means as would be known to one skilled in the relevant art.Each of these and other technical means to measure ankle displacementare contemplated by the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the weight and ankle displacement measuringinterface 200 is coupled to memory for storage of weight data 220 andankle displacement measurements 210. Upon the collection of historicaldata a processor 230 accesses the patient's weight data 220 andhistorical ankle measurement data 210 to conduct, using trend module250, a respective trend analysis. This trend data is then processed by acorrelation module 240 and a statistical analysis module 260 todetermine whether the historical data of the patient's weight andhistorical data with respect to a patient's ankle size are correlated.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, when the trenddata of size of a patient's ankles is not correlated with the trend dataof the patient's weight, a report is generated by the reporting module270. The event is recorded in memory 280 and transmitted via atransmitting module 290 and network 140 to a healthcare professional130. For example, assume a patient with a history of heart disease hasbeen directed to use one embodiment of the present invention on aroutine basis. After some baseline measurements the patient is sent homewith the device. Over a prolonged period of time, say 6 months, thepatient regularly steps onto the device and the device automaticallyrecords the patient's weight and ankle displacement. The data iscollected, and upon the collection of enough data points to make astatistical analysis, trends are analyzed. The process is ongoing andeach time the patient steps onto the scale the historical data and trendanalysis are revised. Normally the patient's weight and ankledisplacement would show a high degree of correlation. However, if anunexplained increase in the person's ankles occurs without anycorresponding weight increase, the present invention identifies thisuncorrelated event and reports it to a healthcare professional and/orthe patient.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, responsive tothe determination of a low correlation factor between historicalmeasurements of a patient's weight and the patient's ankle size over apredetermined sampling period, the present invention can institute aseries of questions or inquiries to narrow the instances of falsepositive alerts. A false positive is a condition in which, while a lowcorrelation between the patient's weight and ankle size over thesampling period does exist, the causes of the that low correlation maybe easily explained. For example, if a statistically significant eventwas identified shortly after the person experienced an ankle injury thenthe low correlation factor may not be an indication of congestive heartfailure. Also if ankle displacement measurements indicate only anincrease of size of one ankle versus both ankles the protocols can beprogrammed to inquire if an injury has occurred.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the present inventioncan be implemented in software. Software programming code which embodiesthe present invention is typically accessed by a microprocessor 230 fromlong-term, persistent storage media of some type, such as a flash driveor hard drive. The software programming code may be embodied on any of avariety of known media for use with a data processing system, such as adiskette, hard drive, or CD-ROM. The code may be distributed on suchmedia, or may be distributed from the memory or storage of one computersystem over a network of some type to other computer systems for use bysuch other systems. Alternatively, the programming code may be embodiedin the memory of the device and accessed by a microprocessor using aninternal bus. The techniques and methods for embodying softwareprogramming code in memory, on physical media, and/or distributingsoftware code via networks are well known and will not be furtherdiscussed herein.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures and the like that perform particular tasksor implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including hand-held devices,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers and thelike. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices thatare linked through a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

An exemplary system for implementing the invention includes a generalpurpose computing device in the form of a conventional personalcomputer, a personal communication device or the like, including aprocessing unit, a system memory, and a system bus that couples varioussystem components including the system memory to the processing unit.The system bus may be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory generallyincludes read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). A basicinput/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help totransfer information between elements within the personal computer, suchas during start-up, is stored in ROM. The personal computer may furtherinclude a hard disk drive for reading from and writing to a hard disk, amagnetic disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable magneticdisk. The hard disk drive and magnetic disk drive are connected to thesystem bus by a hard disk drive interface and a magnetic disk driveinterface, respectively. The drives and their associatedcomputer-readable media provide non-volatile storage of computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules and other datafor the personal computer. Although the exemplary environment describedherein employs a hard disk and a removable magnetic disk, it should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computerreadable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer,such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs) and the likemay also be used in the exemplary operating environment.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magneticdisk, ROM or RAM, including an operating system, one or more applicationprograms or software portions, other program modules and program data. Auser may enter commands and information into the personal computerthrough input devices such as a keyboard and pointing device. Otherinput devices may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellitedish, scanner or the like. These and other input devices are oftenconnected to the processing unit through a serial port interface that iscoupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces,such as a parallel port, game port or universal serial bus (USB). Amonitor or other type of display device may also be connected to thesystem bus via an interface, such as a video adapter.

A personal computer or processor such as one employed in the presentinvention may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers. The remote computer may beanother personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peerdevice or other common network node, and typically includes many or allof the elements described above relative to the personal computer. Thelogical connections described herein include local area networks (LAN)and a wide area networks (WAN). Such networking environments arecommonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, Intranets andthe Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer is connected tothe local network through a network interface or adapter. When used in aWAN networking environment, the computer typically includes a means forestablishing communications over the wide area network, such as theInternet. This means is connected to the system bus via the serial portinterface. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relativeto the personal computer, or portions thereof, may be stored in theremote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that the networkconnections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing acommunications link between the computers may be used.

Included in the description are flowcharts depicting examples of themethodology which may be used to correlate trend data between apatient's weight and ankle displacement measurements. In the followingdescription, it will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions.These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer orother programmable apparatus to produce a machine such that theinstructions that execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may alsobe stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer orother programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner suchthat the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce anarticle of manufacture including instruction means that implement thefunction specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computerprogram instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to beperformed in the computer or on the other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer implemented process such that the instructions thatexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide stepsfor implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support combinationsof means for performing the specified functions and combinations ofsteps for performing the specified functions. It will also be understoodthat each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a determinationwith respect to correlation between a patient's weight and a patient'sankle size can be made by specifically analyzing trend data over aperiod of time. FIG. 3 shows the flowchart of one method embodiment fordetermining correlation data between the patient's weight and ankledisplacement measurements. The process begins with collection 310 of apatient's weight and ankle displacement. The respective data isthereafter stored 320 on a persistent memory device as would be known toone skilled in the relevant art. Trend analysis is conducted todetermine 330 a historical image of the patient's weight and ankledisplacement measurements, and thereafter the two sets of data arecompared to determine 340 whether a correlation factor exists.

A query 350 is then made whether the correlation factor for a localevent is a large number or a small number. If the correlation factor islarge, indicating a correlation between the variances in trend data ofthe patient's weight and the ankle displacement measurements, data iscontinued to be collected and analyzed.

When the correlation factor is small, indicating that the variance inthe patient's ankle displacement measurements is not correlated with thevariance in the patient's weight, the present invention determineswhether data is sufficient to consider if the analysis is indicative ofcongestive heart failure. Thereafter another query 360 is conducted todetermine whether the correlation factor is statistically significant.For example, a gradual change in ankle size may be dismissed while arapid change in ankle displacement, as indicated by a statisticallysignificant change in the correlation factor, may warrant furtheranalysis. The second query 360, therefore, determines whether the changein the ankle displacement measurements as compared to the change in thepatient's weight is so significantly different as to rule out otherpossible factors which may explain the change in size of the patient'sankle. When it is concluded that the statistically significant change islikely indicative of pedal edema associated with congestive heartfailure, a report so indicating is generated.

Thereafter, the data is transmitted 370 to a healthcare professional forfurther analysis. According to another embodiment of the presentinvention, when the analysis of the trend data reveals a statisticallysignificant change in the ankle displacement measurements a report isgenerated, which is conveyed directly to the patient. Whether the datais transmitted to a healthcare professional or conveyed to the patientvia a display device, the present invention provides importantinformation to a patient with respect to a significant change in theiranatomy which may be indicative of congestive heart failure.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention maybe embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming anddivision of the modules, managers, functions, systems, engines, layers,features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects are not mandatoryor significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or itsfeatures may have different names, divisions, and/or formats.Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in therelevant art, the modules, managers, functions, systems, engines,layers, features, attributes, methodologies, and other aspects of theinvention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware, or anycombination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the presentinvention is implemented as software, the component can be implementedas a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as aplurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically ordynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a devicedriver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future tothose of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, thepresent invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specificprogramming language, or for any specific operating system orenvironment. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention isintended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of theinvention, which is set forth in the following claims.

While there have been described above the principles of the presentinvention in conjunction with a weight scale and ankle displacementmeasurement device, it is to be clearly understood that the foregoingdescription is made only by way of example and not as a limitation tothe scope of the invention. Particularly, it is recognized that theteachings of the foregoing disclosure will suggest other modificationsto those persons skilled in the relevant art. Such modifications mayinvolve other features that are already known per se and which may beused instead of or in addition to features already described herein.Although claims have been formulated in this application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure herein also includes any novel feature or any novelcombination of features disclosed either explicitly or implicitly or anygeneralization or modification thereof which would be apparent topersons skilled in the relevant art, whether or not such relates to thesame invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not itmitigates any or all of the same technical problems as confronted by thepresent invention. The Applicant hereby reserves the right to formulatenew claims to such features and/or combinations of such features duringthe prosecution of the present application or of any further applicationderived therefrom.

1. An apparatus for correlating ankle displacement with weight, theapparatus comprising: a processor containing: program code configured tocalculate a weight measurement trend and an ankle displacementmeasurement trend, program code configured to determine a correlationfactor between the weight measurement trend and the ankle displacementtrend, and responsive to the correlation factor being below apredetermined value, program code to determine whether the correlationfactor being below the predetermined value is statistically significant.2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ankle displacementdevice that uses ultrasound waves to measure ankle displacement.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ankle displacement devicethat uses infrared waves to measure ankle displacement.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising a transmitter operable to wirelesslytransmit an alert to a healthcare professional responsive to thecorrelation factor being below the predetermined value and beingstatistically significant.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a display operable to display an alert when the correlationfactor is below the predetermined value and is statisticallysignificant.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor iscoupled to a network and wherein the processor is operable to transmitan alert via the network to a healthcare professional responsive to thecorrelation factor being below the predetermined value and beingstatistically significant.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising program code configured to, responsive to the correlationfactor being below the predetermined value being statisticallysignificant, create an alert.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 furthercomprising program code configured to automatically convey the alert toa healthcare professional.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 furthercomprising program code configured to inform the user of the alert. 10.A method for monitoring correlation between a patient's weight and ankledisplacement, the method comprising: determining a plurality of weightmeasurements and a plurality of ankle displacement measurements;calculating a weight measurement trend and an ankle displacementmeasurement trend; determining a correlation factor between the weightmeasurement trend and the ankle displacement measurement trend; andresponsive to the correlation factor being below a predetermined value,issuing an alert message.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the ankledisplacement measurement and the weight measurement are takensubstantially simultaneously.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein thealert is automatically conveyed to a healthcare professional.
 13. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the alert is automatically displayed to thepatient.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality ofankle displacement measurements is determined using ultrasound waves.15. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of ankledisplacement measurements is determined using infrared technology. 16.The method of claim 10 further comprising, responsive to issuing analert message, presenting to the patient a plurality of questions andwherein based on the response to the plurality of questions determiningwhether a healthcare professional should be automatically alerted.
 17. Ahome healthcare monitoring device usable by a patient for determiningconditions indicative of congestive heart failure, the devicecomprising: a processor coupled to the memory and capable of executing aprogram of instructions wherein said program of instructions comprises aplurality of program codes for determining correlation between aplurality of ankle displacement measurements and a plurality of weightmeasurements, wherein said program of instructions includes program codeconfigured to calculate a weight measurement trend and an ankledisplacement measurement trend, program code configured to determine acorrelation factor between the weight measurement trend and the ankledisplacement trend, and responsive to the correlation factor being belowa predetermined value, program code to create an alert of a conditionindicative of congestive heart failure.
 18. The home healthcaremonitoring device of claim 17 wherein the plurality of anklemeasurements includes measurements made using ultrasound waves.
 19. Thehome healthcare monitoring device of claim 17 wherein the plurality ofankle measurements includes measurements made using infrared technology.20. The home healthcare monitoring device of claim 17 wherein responsiveto the correlation factor being below a predetermined value, the programcode to create an alert includes a plurality of questions forpresentation to the patient and wherein based on the response to theplurality of questions, a determination is made whether a healthcareprofessional should be automatically alerted.